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TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA - The Cherokee Nation recently provided area farmers with information on how they will be able to sell their products directly to consumers through a new kind of grocery market in Oklahoma City that will open later this year. The information on the market was presented at a Cherokee Nation small farms project meeting.

"Think of a farmers’ market open seven days a week and that the producers don’t have to be present to sell their products", said Kathy Carter-White, writer and researcher for the Cherokee Nation. "Farmers and ranchers would stock the shelves on consignment and pay a small commission to the cooperative. During the meeting, the group discussed designing and forming a local co-op to share the transportation of goods to Oklahoma City on a weekly basis so that area farmers can participate in an innovative farmers’ market grocery store that will allow them to sell their products directly to the public", explained Carter-White.

The weekly meetings of the Cherokee Nation small Farm project are held every Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. at the Restaurant of the Cherokees located on Hwy 62 south in Tahlequah. Representatives of the Cherokee Nation hope to learn whether Cherokee farmers are interested in forming a co-op to share transportation of goods.

"We're encouraging people to grow extra food", said Carter-White. "We can help with technical support on proper canning, drying, packaging and storing of goods so that there will be a surplus of products to stock the shelves when the farmers’ market grocery store opens", Carter-White said.

For more information, contact Kathy Carter-White, phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2653) or 1-800-256-0671 (ext.2653).

Mike Miller, Cherokee Nation Director of Communications Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2210) Fax: 918-458-5580 E-mail: Communications@cherokee.org Larry Daugherty, Advertising Manager Cherokee Nation - Public Affairs Phone 918-456-0671 (Ex.2324) E-mail: ldaugherty@cherokee.org

Bradley D. Peak, Cherokee Nation Natural Resources Specialist Phone: 918-456-0671 (ex.2843) E-mail: bpeak@cherokee.org Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma Attn: (Department Name) P.O. Box 948, Tahlequah, OK 74465 Telephone: 918-456-0671 (Toll Free OK) 1-800-256-0671